TELSTRA plans to switch on a mobile phone base station in Wartook Valley within days.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Telstra area general manager Steve Tinker said the new station was nearing completion, with crews in the final stages of testing.
“Once complete, the new mobile base station at Wartook Valley will deliver Telstra’s 3G and state of the art 4GX mobile data services to the region for the first time,” he said.
“This will allow the community to keep in contact with family and friends and run their businesses more effectively, whether by speaking on the phone or using a range of online services over our fast mobile network.”
Mr Tinker said the base station was one of 577 the company was building across Australia.
Telstra confirmed earlier this month the Wartook project would go ahead after changes to the mobile phone blackspots program, which funded the Wartook Valley station.
The federal government announced in December 2016 that Wartook Valley would receive a Telstra tower.
It came after a decade of community and government lobbying, particularly in the wake of the Grampians fires in 2014 when communication issues were exposed.
Meanwhile, Optus plans to start construction on a mobile tower at Laharum in April.
Representatives on behalf of Optus approached property owners in the area in August 2016, to find a suitable suit for a new phone tower.
Horsham Rural City Council approved a planning permit for the tower last year.
An Optus spokesperson said the Laharum site – like the Telstra one in Wartook Valley – was part of the federal government’s mobile blackspot program.
“Optus chose the location for its new sites based on an extensive review process of the area and where it would best service the community,” the spokesperson said.
“This included review of the site proposed by community members.
“Construction of the site is forecast to begin in April 2018 and will take approximately three months to complete.
“The mobile tower will provide 4G and 3G services to the residents of the Laharum, Brimpaen and Wartook areas.
“Optus is looking forward to investing in the northern Grampians region to improve mobile services for the local community.”
